nother and, so far as he is strong enough, subjugates him, subjects the
rest to his own authority, and exercises ferocious outrages with delight
upon all who do not submit to him. All the hells are societies of this
description: on which account, every spirit, and every society,
cherishes hatred in his heart against every other, and, under the
influence of such hatred, breaks out into savage outrages against him,
as far as he is able to inflict them. These outrages, and the torments
so occasioned, are also meant by hell fire; for they are the effects of
the lusts which there prevail.

In order that man may be in a state of liberty, as necessary to his
being reformed, he is connected, as to his spirit, with heaven and with
hell: for spirits from hell, and angels from heaven, are attendant on
every man. By the spirits from hell, man is held in his evil; but by the
Angels from heaven, he is held in good by the Lord.

Thus he is preserved in spiritual equilibrium, that is, in freedom or
liberty.

The particulars which have been delivered in this work respecting
heaven, the world of spirits, and hell, will appear obscure to those who
take no pleasure in acquiring a knowledge of spiritual truths; but they
will appear clear to those who take pleasure in that acquirement; and
especially those who cherish an affection of truth for its own
sake,--that is, who love truth because it is truth. For everything that
is loved enters with light into the ideas of the mind: and this is
eminently the case, when that which is loved is truth: for all truth
dwells in light.

* * * * *

THE TALMUD

The word "Talmud," from the Hebrew verb _lamad_, equalling "to
learn," denotes literally "what-is-learning." Then it comes to
mean "instruction," "teaching," "doctrine." What is usually
called the Talmud consists of two parts: 1. The Mishnah
(literally, "tradition" and then "traditional doctrine") a
code of Jewish laws, civil, criminal, religious, and so forth;
based ostensibly on the Pentateuch, expounding, applying, and
developing the laws contained in the so-called five books of
Moses. 2. The Gemara, a word which means literally
"completion," or "supplement," _i.e._, in reference to the
Mishnah. Some, however, explain the word as meaning
"teaching." The word is used technically to denote the
expansion, exposition, and illustration of the M